The Baltimore Ravens endured a very difficult 2013 season, one in which they missed the playoffs despite having a chance to win their division on the final day of the 17-week grind through the NFL. What went wrong for the Ravens, and how can things change this season? Here’s a basic look at the challenges and hopes in front of Baltimore.
Strengths
The Ravens no longer have Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and some of the players who helped the franchise win Super Bowls, but they still have a very physical defense, one that is able to compete with the rest of the AFC North, one of the black-and-blue divisions in the NFL with an old-style football mentality. Baltimore’s problem last season was not its defense, which was able to go toe-to-toe with the offenses in the AFC North. Baltimore should be able to contain Pittsburgh and Cleveland this season, and if it can at least play one really good defensive game against Cincinnati at home, the Ravens should split with the Bengals. If Baltimore can go 4-2 against the North, it should be able to finish at or near the top in the division and very possibly grab a playoff spot.
Weaknesses
The Ravens fell last year on offense, partly because quarterback Joe Flacco was injured late in the season, but mostly because Flacco didn’t have good receivers to throw to. When Anquan Boldin left for the San Francisco 49ers, everyone in the NFL expected the Ravens to suffer, and they did. Boldin was the player who was able to get a lot of catches in traffic and in one-on-one situations on the edges. Boldin was able to outjump and outreach smaller defenders for passes, and that gave Flacco a security blanket he lacked last season.
What also hurt Flacco was the injury early in the season to Dennis Pitta, a hybrid type of pass catcher who often played tight end. Pitta gave Flacco a possession receiver and a safety valve when the long ball wasn’t there. His injury put a crimp into the Ravens’ plans as well. The Ravens just didn’t have enough of a passing game, and that’s part of why Ray Rice lost something at running back. The Ravens will be tested on offense this season. Their passing game has to be a lot better.
Schedule
The Ravens host defending AFC North champion Cincinnati in week one, so that becomes a huge game right off the bat for Baltimore. If the Ravens win that game, they can set a positive tone for the season. The first three games of the season are division games, so Baltimore needs to win at least two of them. The Ravens then visit the Bengals in week eight, and their bye week doesn’t come until week 11, so their season is front-loaded, at least as far as the division is concerned. Out of conference, the Ravens play the NFC South. They visit New Orleans and Tampa Bay while hosting Atlanta and Carolina. Baltimore should aim to go 3-1 in those four games.
Outlook
The Ravens have been one of the more consistent organizations in the NFL over the past decade. They expect to be in the playoffs, and if they can avoid a lot of injuries on offense, they’ll probably be able to improve by at least a game from last year. Nine wins is a minimum expectation for this team. The Ravens should be able to cover an over-under of 8.5.
Pick: Over 8.5
